The American College of Hypnotherapy

Clinical Hypnotherapist Certification

Frequently asked Questions and Responses (FAQs)

Welcome to the FAQs section of the American College of Hypnotherapy. This area is provided to you as a source of information that may be more clarified, related to questions you may have in regards to our certification and education program. Information regarding recertification, as well as information about our online continuing education courses, is also provided. We highly recommend that you first thoroughly review all of the information on our website, under the main page for The American College of Hypnotherapy. Access main page. If after reviewing all of the provided information and this FAQs section, any other questions may be addressed by completing our request for information form online (access info form). Thank you for your interest in hypnotherapy certification and education programs.

What is Certification?

Response: certification is a voluntary process, which is provided by a well organized organization, that through its qualified advisory boards, develops comprehensive and quality standards for the practice of a type of specialty. The developed standards address high quality requirements for the practice of a certain specialty. The defined standards speak to educational and/or practice requirements, any required prerequisites, and the need to adhere to a defined code of ethics for the practice specialty. Certification is a voluntary process. It is different than any type of licensing. Certification is one means by which professionals may be publicly recognized as achieving a high level of education, knowledge base and practice skills for a certain healthcare related specialty. Certification also assists employer organizations and clients in their assessment of appropriate qualifications for candidates seeking positions in organizations and/or involved in private practices. It is commonly held, today, that certification by a very well organized professional organization, is fast becoming a "gold standard" for specialty practices. Certification testifies and provides a verification of defined educational requirements, adherence to a solid code of ethics, and in many instances prerequisites of practice experience for the practice of clinical hypnotherapy and related services.

What are the criteria/standards I will need to meet to achieve certification?

Response: The educational criteria and standards are well and clearly defined within our website. Please access our main page to preview these requirements. Access here.

May I apply for and be conferred certification if I have been practicing as a Clinical hypnotherapist in a clinical setting or private practice, with out the need to meet the educational requirements?

Response: No. The Board that oversees the development and approval of defined criteria and standards for certification will not consider only practice experience as meeting requirements in full. This decision was made as those who are already in consulting practices have varied and different experiences related to education and practice and there is no insured uniformity that all who have practiced hypnotherapy have the same knowledge base and skills attainment. The evaluation of one's past practice experience in hypnotherapy is highly variable and subjective. As such, the Board has developed objective criteria/standards for the conferral of certification. For these reasons, practice experience without the attainment of education will not be considered as fulfilling criteria and standards for our certification.

Over the years, I have completed many seminars and continuing education courses related to hypnotherapy. Will these apply toward the education requirements for certification?

Response: Your past completed education may well qualified you as meeting the standards/criteria to apply for certification. To establish approval of your past education completion it is necessary that you submit, with your completed application, verification of all completed seminars and/or courses. This includes college-level courses and or continuing education courses. Once received, the administrative board and staff will review all of your submissions and verifications and make the decision as to whether or not your past education achievements meets the standards and criteria for certification. You will be notified by postal mail within 7 to 14 days regarding the decision of the acceptance or disapproval of any past education completions. In many instances, submitted verifications of education directly related to stress management are accepted. Most rejections occur because the education completed was not directly related to the practice specialty of stress management or there is not enough broad-based knowledge related to multiple dimensions of stress management practice and interventions.

What is the major practice focus of a Certified clinical hypnotherapist?

Response: A certified clinical hypnotherapist is one who is very well versed in theory, knowledge, and application of the principles and practices of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. These certified practitioners are well schooled in the study of trance and trance induction, as well as the workings of the levels of mind, especially the subconscious mind. They specifically are educated and knowledgeable regarding the use of “scripts” and suggestion for use to assist clients in a positive and health re-programming of the subconscious mind. Those who have completed a comprehensive education program are also trained in the use of communication skills with the subconscious mind, thus identifying root causes of various behavioral and physical health problems. Many certified hypnotherapist's will specialize in various types of practice such as habit elimination, stress reduction, treatment of phobias, anxiety and depression, etc. Other may specialize in healing modalities, metaphysical applications, grief, and a host of various specialty treatments and modalities.

The key to being a safe and therapeutic practitioner is to have completed a very comprehensive education program in hypnosis and hypnotherapy, one which also provides for actual evaluation of trance inductions and the use of scripts and other therapies. There is a serious lack of uniform, detailed standards/criteria for “certification” and practice qualifications globally. Uniform standards do not exist at this time. The American College of Hypnotherapy has established significant education requirements for its certification program; to insure a high over-all standard for those is confers certification upon. Comprehensive education and practice, we believe, helps insure highly qualified, safe and therapeutic practitioners of hypnotherapy.

Where do clinical hypnotherapist's practice?

Response: The services of certified clinical hypnotherapist's are in much demand throughout our country and throughout the world. Over the past several decade medical science and research has well documented the therapeutic and effective outcomes of hypnotherapies, when provided by highly qualified practitioners. Impressive and significant outcomes have been achieved and will continue as the profession continues to grow in its body of knowledge and research. As science and research continue to document the positive effects of hypnotherapies, the demand for qualified practitioners will continue to escalate.

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist's, for the most part, work within their own practices. Some retain employment with holistic care centers, wellness centers, behavioral health care centers and agencies, hospitals, and any where integrative health care is practiced and supported. As science and research continue to document the positive effects of clinical hypnotherapy interventions, the demand for qualified consultants will continue to escalate.

Do States regulate the practice of Hypnosis?

Some states do not regulate this practice and other states do to varying degrees. We have prepared a page with information regarding this. You should review this information before entering into any hypnosis/hypnotherapy training program. You may access this page: click here

Does the American institute of health care professionals provide approval's for education programs whose graduates would qualify for being conferred certification?

Response: Yes. We do provide a full program approval process for those education facilities and or organizations providing education related to clinical hypnotherapy. Applications for program approval are thoroughly reviewed and must adhere to the defined standards and criteria as established by the advisory board. Once a particular education program has been approved it is then posted as an approved program on our website (view approved programs). Graduates of programs we have approved may apply for certification. Any formal education program offering clinical hypnotherapy education, meeting our standards, may apply for approval of their program.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ACHIEVING THIS CERTIFICATION?

Response: There is a two-phase process. In order to provide clear and sufficient information on the process we have developed a separate page that defines the process. You may access this information on the certification process at this link: click here.

How can I make application?

Response: Making application is an easy process. We provide on this website a link to a printable application. Those wishing to make application may access this link, print out the application form, completed it, and submit it to our office for review. You may access online applications at this link. Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All applications that are submitted must be complete and include all required documents and verifications as specified for review and consideration of certification conferral.

Once I have achieved certification, must I ever be re- certified?

Response: Yes. A conferred certification has
a period of 4 years. At the end of the four-year period the
certification will expire. The American College of Hypnotherapy provides a full program for recertification. Detailed information on the criteria to be recertified, after the three-year initial certification period, is provided on our website. Access here.

Our organization is sponsoring a one-day seminar on a topic directly related to hypnosis/hypnotherapy. Does the American college of hypnotherapy provide for program approvals for CEU credits?

Response: Yes. We do offer a full program for the approval of education courses, seminars, and other related learning activities related to the topic of clinical hypnotherapy . If an application for approval is approved, then the sponsoring organization may declare on its CEU certificates that the program has been up reviewed and approved by the American College of Hypnotherapy. More information is available on our website, access here.

I am currently certified by the American College of hypnotherapy. I know I am required to achieve additional education in order to qualify for recertification in the future. Do you offer any continuing education courses that I may take to meet my recertification requirements?

Response: Yes. We do offer several courses at this time, which certified members may register for and take, to meet their education requirements for recertification. These courses are provided within online classrooms and are continuing education courses. Certified members may register for these courses at any time. Those who are not currently certified may also take any of our CEU courses, if they wish. Access here.